Betz cell

Betz cell (also known as Betz's pyramidal cell or giant pyramidal cell) is a type of large neuron found in the cerebral cortex of the human brain, specifically in the primary motor cortex, which is located in the precentral gyrus. Named after Ukrainian scientist Vladimir Betz, who discovered them in 1874, Betz cells are the largest neurons in the brain, with cell bodies that can measure up to 100 micrometers in diameter.

Structure

Betz cells are characterized by their large size and the presence of a long axon that extends down the spinal cord. These cells are a type of pyramidal neuron, so named because their cell bodies are shaped like pyramids. They have a large, pyramid-shaped soma (cell body), a single, long axon, and several shorter, branching dendrites.

Function

The primary function of Betz cells is to send signals from the brain to the muscles of the body, controlling voluntary movement. They do this by sending electrical impulses down their long axons, which form part of the corticospinal tract, the main pathway for motor signals from the brain to the spinal cord and from there to the muscles.

Clinical significance

Damage to Betz cells, such as that caused by motor neuron diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), can result in loss of voluntary muscle control, leading to symptoms such as muscle weakness and atrophy.

See also

• Neuron
• Motor cortex
• Corticospinal tract
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

External links

• Wikimedia Commons has media related to Betz cells.